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Prologue
April 1811
The Old Barn near Brancaster
Norfolk, England
Three horseled, faint on the night breeze, as they turned their horses’ heads to the west Clouds shifted, drifted;the scene
The Old Barn stood silent, watchful, guarding its secrets Earlier, within its walls, the Hunstanton Gang had gathered to elect a new leader Afterward, the sht, hts froht of a storo their new leader had arranged
“Captain Jack!” As he swung his horse onto the road, George Smeaton frowned at the man beside him “Do we really need to resurrect him?”
“Who else?” Mounted on his tall grey, Jonathon Hendon, better known as Jack, gestured expansively “That was, after all, uerre”
“Years ago When you were dangerous to know I’ve lived the last years in the comfortable belief that Captain Jack had died”
“No” Jack grinned “He’s merely been in temporary retirement” Captain Jack had been active in ements in the Peninsula, the Admirality had recruited Jack to captain one of his own ships, harassing French shipping up and down the Channel “You have to ad leader for the Hunstanton Gang”
George’s snort was eloquent “Poor blighters—they’ve no idea what they’ve let themselves in for”
Jack chuckled “Stop carping—ourbetter than I’d hoped, and all in only a feeeks of co home Whitehall will be ilers—I’m now their leader We’re in a perfect position to ensure no inforets to the French by this route” His brows rose; his expression turned considering “Who knows?” he ht even be able to use the traffic for our own ends”
George raised his eyes heavenward “Captain Jack’s only been with us half an hour, and already you’re getting ideas Just ild sche?”
“Not hatching” Jack threw hi opportunity It occurs to o out through the Norfolk surf, and perhaps follow any arrivals back to their traitorous source, we ht now have the opportunity to do a little infor of our own—to Boney’s confusion, needless to say”
George stared “I thought that once we’d investigated any recent hu down”
“Perhaps” Jack’s gaze grew distant “And perhaps not” He blinked and straightened “I’ll see what Whitehall thinks We’ll need Anthony, too”
“Oh, ine the Gang will s your tale that we’re landless ed no less, particularly once you take full coentry all your life It shows!”
Jack shrugged dis for an They won’t rock the boat—at least, not soon We’ll have ti back at the third rider, a length behind to his left Like hitied easily into the se as our private rendezvous—it’s secluded, and we can guard against being followed”
Matthew nodded “Aye Easy enough to check our trail”
Jack settled in his saddle “Given the ses, there’s no reason they should stumble on our real identities”
Checking his horse, Jack turned left, into the narrow ht up the rear As they clis considered, I can’t see why you’re worrying Captain Jack’s co”
“Plain sailing with Captain Jack?” George snorted “When pigs fly”
Chapter 1
May 1811
West Norfolk